Animal-resistant system

ABSTRACT

An animal-resistant system for inhibiting access to refuse containers by animals is disclosed. The system comprises at least one latch mechanism, at least one actuation member, at least one shroud member, and a cover defining an opening which permits access to the actuation member. The actuation member communicates with the latch mechanism so as to move the latch mechanism between the latched and unlatched positions. In the latched position, the latch mechanism secures the container lid to the container base, substantially inhibiting access to the container. The access hole and actuation member are dimensioned and positioned on the container in a selected manner so as allow human hands access to the actuation member and unlatch the container while simultaneously inhibiting such access by animals. The shrouds are further configured to inhibit forcible entry into the container when the system is latched.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/721,476 filed on Sep. 27, 2005 byDavid Moore, entitled BEAR PROOF POLY CART LATCH, the entirety of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to latching systems and, in particular,concerns a latching system for use with a container to inhibit access tothe interior of the container by animals.

2. Description of the Related Art

Food and food-containing refuse generated by humans can attract theattention of animals in areas adjacent to animal habitats. Animals, suchas bears, have a keen sense of smell and can easily detect food which isstored or discarded in containers left outdoors such as storage lockersand refuse bins on streets or in parks. Because these outdoor containersare accessible and plentiful, they are an attractive source of food foranimals compared to foraging in their natural habitat. Furthermore, onceanimals learn that this source of food is available, they may lose theirwariness towards humans and frequently return to areas where the foodwas located, increasing the probability of an animal-human encounter.

The attraction of animals, and bears in particular, to human populatedareas is problematic. The size and strength of some animals, bears, forexample, makes them a potential threat to people or property theyencounter while attempting to access containers containing food.Further, animals entering settled areas can become injured or killed bymoving automobiles, electrical lines, and other human technologies.Thus, to protect people, property, and the animals themselves, it isdesirable to inhibit animals from accessing containers storing food andfood containing refuse.

Latch systems are commonly placed on containers for this purpose. Forexample, a common latch system employs a latch which is actuated by apair of thumb and finger clips to secure the lid of the container inplace when the lid is closed. Other systems may further employ large,heavy reinforcing components on the lid of a container, designed toinhibit animals from physically damaging the container in order to gainaccess.

These latch systems are problematic, however. In one aspect, the latchescan require significant dexterity to operate, presenting difficultiesfor children, the elderly, or the handicapped. In another aspect, theselatch mechanisms may require a user to re-engage the latch after eachuse. Should the user forget to re-engage the latch, the receptacle isvulnerable to animals. In a further aspect, the latches are not guardedagainst animal access. Thus, animals, by luck, persistence, orcleverness, may succeed in operating the latch to open the container.

In an additional aspect, the reinforcing components can cause prematurefailure of the container. The reinforcing components may comprise solid,heavy components attached to the container lid which are designed toresist deformation from an animal attempting forcible entry into acontainer. The added weight of the reinforcing components, however,typically causes damage to container hinge after repeated use of thecontainer. As a result, repair or replacement of the container isrequired, at the expense of the owner.

These deficiencies in current latch designs illustrate the need forimproved animal-resistant latch systems which are easy to use andmechanically robust, while also reducing the potential for user error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionprovide an animal-resistant system for securing a lid of a containerhaving a base, where the lid is positioned inward of the base. Thesystem comprises at least one latch mechanism that interconnects the lidand the base of the container, where the at least one latch mechanismhas a first orientation where the lid and the base are secured togetherand a second orientation where the lid can be removed from the base. Thesystem further comprises at least one actuation member coupled to the atleast one latch mechanism, where a user can manipulate the actuationmember to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first tothe second orientation. The system additionally comprises a cover thatcovers the actuation member, where the cover defines an opening that isspaced from the actuation member a distance and direction selected topermit user manipulation of the actuation member by a human finger butto inhibit manipulation by an animal claw.

In another aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionprovide an animal-resistant system for securing a lid of a containerhaving a base, where the lid is positioned inward of the base. Thesystem comprises at least one latch mechanism that interconnects the lidand the base of the container, where the at least one latch mechanismhas a first orientation where the lid and the base are secured togetherand a second orientation where the lid can be removed from the base. Thesystem also comprises at least one actuation member coupled to the atleast one latch mechanism, where a user can manipulate the actuationmember to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first tothe second orientation. The system further comprises at least one shroudmember that is mounted on the inner edge of the base of the container,adjacent to the interface between the base and the lid of the container,to inhibit a bear from accessing an edge of the lid of the containeradjacent to the base. The system additionally comprises a protectivemember mounted on the portion of the lid of the container that isadjacent to the interface with the base, where the protective member isformed of a rigid material so as to inhibit the bear from deforming theportion of the lid adjacent to the interface with the base.

In a further aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionprovide an animal-resistant container. The container comprises areceptacle having a base and a lid, where the lid is positioned inwardof the base. The container also comprises at least one latch mechanismthat interconnects the lid and the base of the container, where the atleast one latch mechanism has a first orientation, where the lid and thebase are secured together and a second orientation where the lid can beremoved from the base. The container further comprises at least oneactuation member coupled to the at least one latch mechanism, where auser can manipulate the actuation member to thereby manipulate the atleast one latch from the first to the second orientation. The containeradditionally comprises a cover that covers the actuation member, wherethe cover defines an opening that is spaced from the actuation member adistance and direction selected to permit user manipulation of theactuation member by a human finger but to inhibit user manipulation byan animal claw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate perspective views of a container equipped withone embodiment of an animal-resistant system in the opened and closedpositions;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate front and rear views of the container,illustrating embodiments of the shroud members;

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate front and rear views of the animal-resistantlatching system of FIG. 1 operated by a human hand;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate embodiments of the latching mechanism; and

FIG. 6 presents a side view of the animal-resistant latching system ofFIG. 1, illustrating one embodiment of the selected dimensions of thesystem which inhibit access to the actuation member by animals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to an animal-resistantsystem directed towards inhibiting the access of bears tofood-containing receptacles. However, the embodiments of the inventionmay be applied to inhibiting the access of animals in general tocontainers.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate perspective views of one embodiment of ananimal-resistant system 100. Generally, the system 100 is adaptable foruse with a container 102 possessing a base 104 and a lid 106. The lid106 is positioned inward of the base 104 in order to inhibit animalsfrom accessing the contents of the container 102. Such containers 102may include, but are not limited to, campground food storage boxes andoutdoor trash receptacles, including business and household receptacles.

The system 100 comprises at least one latch mechanism 110 which securesthe lid 106 to the base 104, at least one actuation member 112 (FIG. 2)which allows a user to manipulate the latch mechanism 110 to release thelid 106, a cover 114 which protects the actuation member 112 andprovides an opening 116A by which the actuation member may bemanipulated, at least one shroud member 120 which inhibits access to theinterface between the base 104 and lid 106, and a protective member 122which provides additional reinforcement.

Advantageously, in one aspect, the system 100 exploits differences inanimal and human physiology to substantially secure containers 102 in amanner that inhibits animal access but permits simple and convenienthuman access. Additionally, in a second aspect, the system 100 securesthe container against forcible entry from large, strong animals. Theseand other features and advantages of the system 100 will be described indetail below.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate one embodiment of a container 102 equipped withthe system 100. In one embodiment, the container 102 comprises the base104 and the lid 106, interconnected by a hinge 124. The base 104 isgenerally elongate and rectangular, with interconnected base walls126A-126D (collectively, walls 126) that define a container interior 130possessing a generally square cross-section. While the cross-section ofthe illustrated embodiment is generally square, a person of ordinaryskill will realize that any of a number of known shapes of receptaclescan be used with the latching system 100 disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

Refuse or other items stored within the container interior 130 areaccessed through a container mouth 132 at an upper end 134 of thecontainer 102. The base 104 also comprises a generally “L”-shapedcontainer lip 136, located at about the container upper end 134. The lip136 extends outward from the base 104, at the upper end 134,approximately parallel to the plane of the container mouth 132 and bendsapproximately 90 degrees so as to orient a portion of the lipapproximately parallel to the walls 126. In this manner, the lip 136defines a space 140 where a portion of the shrouds 120 may be mountedfor protection of the lid 106, as discussed below.

The container lid 106 is configured to move between an open and a closedposition in order to selectively allow and inhibit access to thecontainer interior 130 through the container mouth 132. In oneembodiment, the lid 106 is generally planar, possessing an upper surface142A, a lower surface 142B, and a lid edge 144 which spans the distancebetween the surfaces 142A and 142B about the periphery of the lid 106.The lid 106 is further dimensioned so as to span the container mouth132. In one particular embodiment, the lid 106 is generally rectangular,possessing a plurality of edges 144A-D. The hinge 124 is positionedalong the edge 144A of the lid 106 and interconnects the lid 106 to thebase 104. The hinge 124 is configured so to allow the lid 106 to pivot,indicated by arrow 146, between the open and closed positions. In theclosed position, FIG. 1A, at least a portion of the lower surface 142Bof the lid 106 rests against the upper end 134 of the container base104, substantially obstructing access to the container interior 130through the container mouth 132. In the open position, FIG. 1B, the lid106 does not obstruct to the container mouth 132, allowing access to thecontainer interior 130 through the mouth 132.

In one embodiment, the container 102 may be constructed of injectionmolded high-density polyethylene (HDPE). However, alternate embodimentsof the container 102 may be fabricated using generally understoodfabrication methods with any appropriate materials, including, but notlimited to, other plastics, metals, and woods. It may be understood thatthe embodiments of the system 100 may be resized and otherwise adaptedto fit containers of arbitrary size, geometry, material, and brand,without departing from the scope of the present invention, and are notlimited to any particular embodiment of the container 102 disclosed.

In one function, the system 100 secures the lid 106 to the containerbase 104. In one embodiment, this function is accomplished by use of thelatch mechanism 110 in conjunction with the actuation member 112. Oneembodiment of the latch mechanism 110 is presented in FIGS. 2 and 3A. Aswill be described in greater detail below, the latch mechanism 110 ismovable between a latched orientation, where the latch mechanism 110inhibits movement of the lid 106 from the closed position in order todeny access to the container interior 130, and an unlatched orientation,wherein the latch mechanism 110 allows movement of the lid 106 from theclosed position for access into the container interior 130.Beneficially, as discussed in greater detail below, embodiments of thelatch mechanism 110 may be configured to automatically return the latchmechanism 110 to the latched orientation when the lid 106 is re-closed,eliminating the need for the user to manually re-engage the latchmechanism 110 and ensuring that the lid 106 in the latched position isclosed.

Referring to FIGS. 1B and 3A, in one embodiment, the lower surface 142Bof the lid 106 is equipped with striker pins 300 which engage the latchmechanism 110 to secure the lid 106 to the base 104. When the lid 106 ismoved from the open to the closed position, the striker pins 300 followa trajectory which enters latch mechanism 110. As discussed in greaterdetail below, the latch mechanism 110 is configured to reversiblycapture the striker pins 300, inhibiting the striker pins 300 fromsubstantial motion and securing the lid 106 in the closed position. Thestriker pins 300 comprise generally elongated rods that are positionedadjacent to the lower surface 142B of the lid 106. In one embodiment, abracket 302 is interconnected to the lower surface 142B of the lid 106to secure the striker pins 300 in place. The bracket 302 extendsdownward, approximately perpendicular to the plane of the lid 106, andthe striker pins 300 are interconnected to the bracket 302 and extendoutward from the bracket 302, approximately parallel to the plane of thelid 106. The bracket 302 and striker pins 300 are positioned on the lid106 such that the striker pins 300 are substantially aligned with, andare captured by, the latch mechanism 110 when the lid 106 is in theclosed position. The bracket 302, striker pins 300, and lid 106 may beinterconnected by fasteners 304 such as washers, nuts, rivets or otherappropriate attachment devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the latch mechanism 110, comprisinga latch housing 200 and a plurality of latches 202. The latch housing200 is generally rectangular, having first and second sides 204A and204B and upper and lower ends 208A and 208B. A plurality of sidewalls206 extend outward from the periphery of a center plate 210, defining anarea 212 in which the actuation member 112 and latches 202 arepositioned. The sidewalls 206 may extend generally perpendicular to theplane of the center plate 210 or at other angles, as necessary. Theopening 116B is also formed in the center plate 210, adjacent to theactuation member 112, to allow exterior access to the actuation member112. The opening 116B may be positioned on any side adjacent to theactuation member 112, as necessary. As discussed in greater detailbelow, the housing 200, actuation member 112 and latches 202 are mountedwithin the container interior 130, where the housing 200 protects theactuation member 112 and latches 202 against damage or interference fromrefuse or other objects within container interior.

The latch housing 200 is also configured to receive the latches 202 andstriker pins 300. The sidewall 206 at the upper end 208A of the housing200 is configured with housing apertures 214 which allow the strikerpins 300 to enter the housing 200 for capture within the latches 202. Ahollow, generally rectangular latch mount 216 is interconnected to thehousing 200, adjacent to the housing aperture 214, by rivets 224 orother mounting devices to provide a mounting surface for the latches202. The latch mount body 216 is further configured with an open sidefacing the housing aperture 214 and a groove 230 oriented approximatelynormal to the housing aperture 214. The open side and groove 230 allowthe striker pin 300 to seat within the latch mount 216 when secured bythe latch 202, substantially constraining motion of the striker pin 300,as discussed below.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the latches 202. In one embodiment, the latches202 may comprise rotary latches 202. The rotary latches 202 aregenerally well known, possessing an elongate, roughly “Y”-shaped body232 having first and second ends 234A and 234B. A channel 240 extendsalong a portion of the length of the latch 202 and terminates at thesecond end 234B. The channel is dimensioned to receive the striker pins300 within, allowing the lid to be secured to the base, as discussed ingreater detail below. The latches 202 are mounted within the latchhousing 200 at a latch pivot 242 positioned at the first end 234A ofeach latch 202.

The latches 202 are configured to reversibly move between a latched andan unlatched orientation about the latch pivot 242, allowing the lid 106to be reversibly secured to the base 104 by the latches 202. In theunlatched orientation, the length of the latch body 232 is oriented atan angle α with respect to a horizontal axis 236 of the latch mechanism110. In one embodiment, α is between approximately 30 to 90 degrees. Inthis orientation, when the lid 106 moves from the open to closedpositions, the striker pins 300 may enter the channels 240 of thelatches 202 through the apertures 214.

Moving the latches 202 from the unlatched to latched positions when thelid 106 is in the closed position secures the lid 106 to the base 104.In the latched orientation, the length of the latches 202 are orientedapproximately horizontal within the latch mounts 216. Thus, as thelatches 202 move from the unlatched orientation to the latchedorientation, the second ends 234B of the latches 202 rotate downwardabout the latch pivots 242, away from the apertures 214. Concurrent withthis motion, when the lid 106 is in the closed position, the latchbodies 232 retain the striker pins 300 within the channels 240. With thelatches 202 so latched, upwards motion of the lid 106 towards the openposition causes the striker pins 300 to contact the latch bodies 202.However, the latch pivots 242 are configured such that the latches 202cannot pivot upwards towards the unlatched position without actuation ofthe actuation member 112, as discussed in greater detail below. Thus, inthe latched position, the latches 202 inhibit the motion of capturedstriker pins 300, which in turn inhibits the motion of the lid 106 fromthe closed position, securing the lid 106 to the base 104.

Advantageously, the components of the latch mechanism 110 and thestriker pins 300 may be fabricated from metals, metallic alloys, orother high strength materials. This high strength construction allowsthe latch mechanism 110 of the system to robustly secure the lid 106against an animal which attempts to forcibly move the lid 106 when thelid 106 is secured to the base 104.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the actuation member 112 in communication withthe latch mechanism 110. In one embodiment, the actuation member 112 maycomprise a cam assembly 112. As will be described in detail below,actuation of the cam assembly 112 moves the latches 202 between thelatched and unlatched orientations, allowing the lid 106 to be movedfrom the closed to open positions. Releasing the cam assembly 112returns the latch mechanism 110 back to the latched orientation. The camassembly 112 comprises a rotatable cam body 244, a plurality of pivots(such as a central cam pivot 260, cam body pivots 262, and cam armpivots 270), a lever 250, a plurality of cam arms 252A-B (collectively252), and a plurality of washers 254.

The rotatable cam body 244 is generally planar, possessing a first side256A and a second side 256B. The central cam pivot 260 and can bodypivots 262 are provided within the cam body 244. The central cam pivot260 is roughly centered within the cam body 244, while the cam bodypivots 262 are positioned about the central cam pivot 260 to provide apivoting attachment point for the cam arms 252A-B to the cam body 244.In one embodiment, the cam body pivots 262 are aligned approximatelyvertical with respect to the central cam pivot 260. The lever 250 isinterconnected to the periphery of the earn body 244 and extends outwardfrom the first side 256A of the rotatable cam body 244. In oneimplementation, the rotatable cam body 244 is formed of a stamped metal,such as steel.

In one embodiment, generally rectangular first and second cam arms 252Aand 256B connect the rotatable cam body 244 to the latches 202. Thefirst cam arm 256A possesses a first end 266A and a second end 266B,while the second cam arm 256B possesses a first end 266D and a secondend 266C. The first end 266A of the first cam arm 256A is interconnectedto the cam body 244 at the cam body arm pivot 262 while the second end266B of the first earn arm 256A is interconnected to the second end 266Cof the second cam arm 256B at a cam arm pivot 270. The first end 266D ofthe second cam arm 256B is interconnected with the first end 234A of thelatch 202 at the latch pivot 242. Upon actuation of the cam body 244,the pivots 242, 260, 262, and 270 cause the cam arms 252 to move suchthat the latches 202 are rotated from the latched to unlatchedorientation, as discussed below with respect to FIGS. 4A-4B.

In one embodiment, the pivots 242, 260, 262, and 270 comprise throughholes formed in their respective components into which pivot pins 264comprising bolts, threaded rods, rivets, or other rod-like fasteners arepositioned, as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, in the case of thelatch pivot 242, holes are formed in the first end 266D of the secondearn arm 252B and the first end 234A of the latches 202. The pivot pins264 are generally elongate and cylindrical, possessing a first end 268Aand a second end 268B. (For clarity, the ends 268A-B are onlyillustrated on the pivot pin 264 of the cam body pivot 260 in FIG. 2,however each of the pivot pins 242, 260, 262, and 270 may be understoodto possess first and second ends 268A-B). In the latch pivots 242 andthe cam body pivot 260, the first end 268A of the pivot pins 264 areinterconnected to the first side 204A of the housing center plate 210,extending outward, approximately perpendicular to the plane of thecenter plate 210. The second end 268B of the pivot pins 264 areconfigured to secure the cam body 244 and latches 202 to the housing200, such as with a thread and nut, allowing each to pivot in place. Inthe case of the cam body arm pivots 262 and cam arm pivots 270, thepivot pins 264 pivotably connect the cam arms 252A to the cam body 244and the cam arms 252A-B, respectively.

The rotatable cam body 244 and latches 202 are mounted to the housing200 at the pivots 242 and 260. The second end 264B of the pivot pins 264are inserted through the rotatable cam body 244 and latches 202 at theirrespective pivots 242, 260 and placed at rest on the pivot pins 264. Theplurality of washers 254 are interposed between the housing 200 and therotatable cam body 244, on the pivot pin 264, to position the lever 250at the selected position with respect to the openings 116A,B, asdiscussed in greater detail below. The rotatable cam body 244 is securedin place on the pivot pin 264 by a thread and nut or other fasteningdevice positioned at the second end 264B of the pivot pin 264. In thismanner, the rotatable cam body 244 is supported and allowed to pivotfreely by the pivot pin 264, while being restrained from removal fromthe pivot pin 264, once mounted thereon.

FIG. 3A illustrates the latch mechanism 110 mounted to the base 104 ofthe container 102. The latch mechanism 110 is positioned within thecontainer interior 130, opposite the hinge, and adjacent to the upperend 134 of the container base 104. So positioned, the housing first side204A faces towards the cover 114 and imposes the housing 200 between thecontainer interior 130 and the latches 202 and actuation member 112. Inthis manner, the cover 114 and the housing 200 protect the latches 202from damage or obstruction resulting from objects within the container102. The latch mechanism 110 is further oriented with respect to thestriker pins 300 so as to allow capture of the striker pins 300 when thelid 106 is closed, as discussed above. An opening force exerted adjacentto the edge 144B, approximately perpendicular to the plane of the lid106, results in a high torque with which to open the lid 106.

Therefore, placing the latch mechanism 110 in this location inhibitsthis location from being used to apply the opening force. An openingforce applied at an alternative location, along one of the edges 144C or144D adjacent to the edge 144A containing the hinge will need to begreater than the force applied at the second edge 144B of the lid 106 togenerate the same torque. However, as will be discussed below, theshrouds 120 inhibit access to the lower surface 142B of the lid 106. Inthis fashion, the latch mechanism 110 and the shrouds 120complementarily inhibit the opening of the lid 106 when the latchmechanism 110 is in the latched orientation, enhancing the securityprovided by the animal-resistant system 100.

The embodiment of FIG. 3A also illustrates the cover 114. In oneembodiment, the cover 114 comprises a generally flat, rectangularcomponent which is positioned on the base wall 126B, generally abuttingthe container lip 136. It may be understood, however, that the cover mayadopt other shapes, as necessary, such as circular, ovular, andtriangular. So positioned, the cover 114 is configured to both protectand provide access to the actuation member 112. In one embodiment, thecover 114 defines the opening 116 adjacent to the actuation member 112.The openings 116A,B provides a pathway from the exterior of thecontainer 102 to the actuation member 112, allowing the actuation member112 to be manipulated so as to unlatch the latch mechanism 110. Asdiscussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 6, in oneembodiment, the openings 116A,B is spaced from the actuation member 112by a distance and direction selected to permit manipulation of theactuation member 112 by a human hand but inhibit such actuation by ananimal such as a bear.

The cover 114 also reinforces the area about the opening 116A to protectthe container 102 from animal access. The opening 116A presents apathway through the cover 114 which an animal could forcibly expand inorder to gain access to the container interior 130. This issue may be ofparticular concern when utilizing plastic containers 102 which might betorn open at the opening 116A by a large animal such as a bear. Toaddress this issue, in one embodiment, the cover 114 may comprise athickened area of the base wall 126B adjacent to the opening 116 andactuation member 112. In this case, the opening 116 comprises a holeformed through the cover 114. In an alternative embodiment, the cover114 may comprise a separate plate mounted to the exterior of thecontainer 102 about the opening 116 and actuation member 112. The platemay be fabricated of the same material used in the construction of thecontainer 102 or the shrouds 120, or another material possessingappropriate strength, toughness, and durability. In this case, theopening 116 comprises substantially overlapping holes formed in thecover 114 and the base wall 126B of the container 102. Advantageously,the opening 116A and cover 114 provide access to the actuation member112 in order to unlatch the latch mechanism 110, while acting to inhibitan animal from using the opening 116A to forcibly gain access to thecontainer interior 130.

The shrouds 120, illustrated in FIG. 3A, provide another mechanism bywhich the system 100 inhibits undesired animal access to the containerinterior 130. In general, the shrouds 120 are configured to fit closelyto the profile of the edges 144 of the container lid 106 and recess theinterface between the lid 106 and the base 104 when the lid 106 is inthe closed position. As discussed below, this shroud 120 configurationinhibits an animal from gaining access to the interface, inserting theirclaws into the interface, and exerting sufficient force to overcome theresistance of the latches 202 when the lid 106 is secured to the base104 with the latches 202.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3A, the shrouds 120 are generally“C”-shaped, possessing upper and lower ends 306A and 306B, an upperportion 310A, a center portion 310B, and a lower portion 310C. Thelength 312 of the shrouds 120 is dimensioned so as to substantially spanthe base walls 126. The center portion 310B is generally rectangular andplanar, possessing a width 314 greater than that of the lip 136 of thecontainer base 104. The upper portion 310A of the shroud 120 isgenerally planar and possesses a contour 316 which is adapted to matewith the edges 144 of the lid 106. The upper portion 310A also possessesa thickness 320 sufficient to recess the lid 106 below the shroud 120 bya selected shroud offset distance 320. In one embodiment, the shroudoffset distance 320 is approximately 0.75-1 inches. The upper portion310A of the shroud 120 is interconnected to the center portion 310B atthe shroud upper end 306A and extends outward, generally perpendicularto the plane of the center portion 310B. As will be discussed in greaterdetail below, the width 314 of the center portion 310B and the thickness320 and contour 316 of the upper portion 310A of the shroud 120 allowthe shroud 120 to recess the lid 106 and inhibit animal access to theinterface between the lid 106 and base 104 when the latch mechanismsecures the lid 106 in the closed position.

In one embodiment, the shroud 120 is anchored to the base 104,approximately at the lip 136, using the center and lower portions 310Band 310C. The lower portion 310C possesses an “L”-shape and isinterconnected to the center portion 310B the lower end 306B of theshroud 120. Connected in this manner, the lower portion 310C of theshroud 120 first extends generally perpendicular to the plane of thecenter portion 310B, then bends approximately 90 degrees to extendparallel to the plane of the center portion 310B, as illustrated in FIG.3A. The center portion 310B of the shroud 120 is placed against the lip136 of the container base 104, with the upper portion 310A resting uponthe upper end 134 of the container base 104 and the lower portion 310Cpositioned within the space 140 defined by the walls 126 and the lip136. So positioned, the upper portion 310A of the shroud 120 abuts theedges 144 of the lid 106 when the lid 106 is in the closed position.

The shroud 120 may be mounted to the base 104 by fasteners 322 such asrivets or nuts and bolts or other attachment mechanisms such asadhesives. Advantageously, when mounted using fasteners 322, asillustrated in FIG. 3A, the fasteners 322 may connect the shroud 120 tothe lip 136 by passing through the shroud 120 at two points, firmlyanchoring the shroud 120 to the base 104 and reducing the likelihoodthat an animal can forcibly remove the shroud 120 to gain access to thelower surface 142B of the container lid 106.

In a further advantage, the shroud offset distance 320 and the close fitengineered between the edges 144 of the lid 106 act to inhibit an animalfrom forcibly opening the container 102. The close fit providessubstantially little space for an animal, particularly a bear, to inserttheir claw between the shroud 120 and the edges 144 of the lid 106.Furthermore, should the animal succeed in inserting their claw betweenshroud 120 and the edges 144 of the lid 106, below the upper edge 306Aof the shroud 120, the distance inserted is likely to be small, lessthan the shroud offset distance 320. Thus, the configuration of theshrouds 120 inhibit an animal from gaining access to the interfacebetween the lid 106 the base 104 and exerting sufficient force toovercome the resistance of latch mechanism 110. In this manner, thesystem 100 utilizes the shrouds 120 as a second protection, which worksin conjunction with the latch mechanism 110, to guard against animalaccess to the container 102.

The shroud 120 also performs a second function by reinforcing the upperend 134 of the container base 104. Lacking this reinforcement, ananimal, such as a bear, may be able to distort the shape of thecontainer base 104 using their strength or body weight. In this event,the lid 106 may become dislodged from its protected, recessed position,exposing a portion of at least one of the lid edges 144. In thisposition, the lid 106 becomes vulnerable to forced opening, even if thelatch mechanism is secured to the lid 106, as discussed above. Thus,placement of the shrouds 120 about the container mouth 132 substantiallyinhibits an animal from deforming the mouth 132 and dislodging the lid106. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the shrouds 120 may be fabricatedfrom a metal in order to enhance their strength and improve theirreinforcing capability.

The number of shrouds 120 employed in the system 100 may be varied,depending upon the level of protection desired for the container 102. Inone embodiment, where moderate protection is desired, such as againstsmall scavengers, two shrouds 120 may be utilized. In thisconfiguration, the shrouds 120 are mounted on opposing edges 144C-D ofthe lid 106, adjacent to the hinge 124.

In an alternative embodiment, where greater protection against animalsis desired, such as against bears or other large animals, a third shroud120 may be provided, mounted on the edge 144B of the lid 106 oppositethe hinge 124. The three shrouds 120 are dimensioned in length 312 so asto lie substantially adjacent to one another at the corners of the base104 and recess the lid 106 approximately continuously along the edges144B, 144C, 144D of the lid 106. The lower portion 310C of the shroud120 opposite the hinge 124 may be omitted, so as to prevent the lowerportion 310C from blocking access to the opening 116. In a furtheralternative embodiment, the shroud 120 may be formed of one piece whichborders the three edges 144B, 144C, 144D of the lid 106 and providesprotection comparable to three individual shrouds 120. Beneficially,embodiments of the system 100 configured with two shrouds 120 may befabricated at a lower cost compared with systems 100 equipped with threeshrouds 120, owing to lower material and labor costs. This flexibilityallows the home, corporate, or government customer to select the system100 best suited to their protection needs and budget.

In certain embodiments, the system may also be configured to protect thehinge 124. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the hinge 124may comprise a rod 326 which is inserted within sockets 330interconnected to the lid 106 and base 104. The sockets 330 may beformed of the same molded plastic as the container 102. Shrouds 120,such as those described above, are not suitable for protecting the hinge124, however, as such a shroud 120 may interfere with the motion of thehinge 124 between the open and closed positions of the lid 106. Thus,embodiments of the system 100 may further comprise hinge shrouds 324.The hinge shrouds 324 may comprise small plates, brackets, or moldedcomponents, formed of metals or plastics, which substantially cover thelength of the hinge 124 and protect it from damage. For example, FIG. 3Billustrates a molded plastic hinge shroud 324 which substantiallysurrounds the socket 330. The hinge shrouds 324 may be attachedfrictionally or mechanically to the hinge 124. The hinge shrouds 324 mayalso be employed with any configuration of the shrouds 120.

FIG. 3A also illustrates one embodiment of the protective member 122,which works both alone and in conjunction with the shrouds 120 toreinforce the lid 106. The protective member 122 comprises a rigid bandwhich is mounted to the lid 106 at approximately the edges 144B-D, andsubstantially spans the edges 144B-D. In one embodiment, the protectivemember 122 comprises a metal band 122. So configured, when the lid 106is placed in the closed position, the protective member 122 ispositioned adjacent to the interface of the lid 106 with the base 104and to the shrouds 120. Thus, should an animal attempt to distort theshape of the container base 104 in order to dislodge the recessed lid106 and gain access to the container interior 130, both the protectivemetal band 122 and the shrouds 120 act to resist the force exerted bythe animal. Advantageously, should the animal succeed in removing one ormore of the shrouds 120 from the base, when the lid 106 is closed, theprotective member 122 will still function as a secondary reinforcementagainst attempts to distort the lid 106 and gain access to the containerinterior 130.

In a further advantage, the system 100 also avoids premature failure ofthe container, a common problem with existing systems for inhibitinganimal access to containers. Typically, other animal-resistant systemsrely upon solid, heavy structures attached to the container lid whichare designed to resist deformation from an animal attempting forcibleentry into a container. The added weight of the reinforcement upon thelid, however, often causes fatigue failure of the container at the lid106 or hinge 124, reducing the lifetime of the container andnecessitating the costly replacement of the container. In contrast, theshrouds 120, latch mechanism 110, actuation member 112, and cover 114 ofthe system 100, are located on the container base 104. Only therelatively light protective member 122 is positioned on the lid 106,providing a modest increase in the weight of the lid 106 As a result,the system 100 allows a container 102 to be protected from animal accesswithout adding significant weight to the lid 106 and the resultantpremature failure of the container 102.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate one embodiment of the unlatching operation of thelatching system 100, performed by the fingers 400 of a single human hand402. As shown in FIG. 4A, the fingers 400 extend outward, generallyperpendicular to the plane of the cover 114, adjacent to the openings116A,B. The fingers 400 are inserted within the openings 116A,B, curledtowards the lever 250, and pressed against the lever 250. As illustratedin FIG. 4B, the motion of the fingers 400 against the lever 250 causesthe cam body 244 to rotate about the central cam body pivot 260. Inresponse to rotation of the cam body 244, first cam arms 252A translatehorizontally (arrow 406), a motion which causes the second end 266C ofthe second cam arm 256B to rotate (arrow 410), about the cam arm pivot270. The rotation of the second cam arm 256B in turn rotates the firstend 266D of the second cam arm 256B and the second end 234B of the latch202 about the latch pivot 242 (arrow 412). The upward rotation of thelatch 202 continues in response to the rotation of the lever 250 untilthe latch 202 contacts the aperture 214 in the housing 200. In thisposition, the latch mechanism 110 is in the unlatched orientation andthe lid 106 may be moved from the closed to the open position.

This design of the latch mechanism 110 provides a number of advantages.As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-B, the system 100 may be unlatched by asingle hand 402 using a simple curling and thrusting motion of thefingers 400. These motions may be performed easily by most users, eventhose who may possess limited strength or dexterity, such as children orolder users. This ease of use is in contrast to currently existingbear-proofing systems, which employ actuation members which aredifficult to access and operate. Furthermore, the ability of the system100 to be unlatched using a single hand 402 is of great benefit to userswho only have one available hand to access the latching mechanism 110,such as when a hand is utilized to hold a garbage bag.

In certain embodiments, the rotatable actuation member 112 may bereturned to its latched state using a biasing member 414 when thefingers 400 are removed from the lever 250. In one embodiment, thebiasing member 414 is mounted within the latch mechanism 110 and acts tobias the latches 202 in the latched orientation. As illustrated in FIG.4B, the biasing member 414 may comprise a torsional spring 414positioned at the central cam body pivot 260, interconnected with thehousing 200 and the cam body 244. The torsional spring 414 may beconfigured such that the spring 414 is at rest when the latch 202 is inthe latched orientation. As described above, actuation of the lever 250by the user's fingers 400 rotates latch 202 towards the unlatchedorientation, pulling the torsional spring from its rest position.Removal of the fingers 400 from the lever 250 removes the force on thespring 414 and the spring 414 returns to its rest position, urging thelatch 202 and the lever 250 back to their latched orientation.Advantageously, in this design, the latch mechanism 110 returns to itslatched orientation without user intervention. In an alternativeimplementation (not shown), the biasing member 414 may comprise atorsional spring 414 positioned at the latch pivot, interconnected tothe latch mount 216 and latches 202, so as to bias the latches 202 intothe latched orientation.

The latches 202 further work in concert with the biasing members 414 tomove the latches 202 into the latched orientation upon closure of thelid 106 from the open position, without the user operating the actuationmember 112. As discussed above, when the lid 106 is in the openposition, without actuation of the actuation member 112, the biasingmember 414 urges the latch mechanism 110 into the latched orientation.As the lid 106 is moved from the open to closed position, the strikerpins move through the apertures 214 in the latch housing 200 to contactthe latches 202. As the lid 106 moves towards the closed position, thestriker pins exert a downward force on the latches 202, urging thelatches 202 to pivot downward, away from the apertures 214. During thisdownward rotation of the latches 202, the position at which the strikerpins contacts the latches 202 also translates horizontally with respectto the stationary striker pins towards the second end 234B of thelatches 202. When the striker pins approximately reach the second end234B of the latches 202, the striker pins may move downward toward theclosed position, unimpeded by the latches 202. Upon reaching the closedposition, the striker pins are positioned adjacent to the channel 240 ofthe latches 202. In this position, the downward force urging therotation of the latches 202 is removed and the biasing member 414 urgesthe latches 202 to rotate upward, back toward the rest position. In thisupward rotation, the striker pins are captured within the latch channel240, securing the lid 106 in the latched orientation. The latch mount216 prevents the latches 202 from being pushed down beyond the closedposition in order to prevent damage to the latches 202 or biasing member414.

Beneficially, this design automatically latches the lid 106 when it ismoved to the closed position. Thus, the system 100 eliminates the needfor the user to remember to re-latch the animal-resistant system 100upon closing the lid 106. Furthermore, engaging the latches 202 is asimple matter of exerting downward pressure on the lid, easilyaccomplished by users of the system 100, regardless of age or physicalhandicap. Thus, because latching the system is easy to lock and thelatch mechanism 110 automatically resets itself, the likelihood that thesystem 100 is inadvertently left unlatched in the closed position by theuser is small, enhancing the security and ease of use of the system 100.

Embodiments of the system 100 may also be configured for use with thecontainer 102 to provide greater or fewer latches 202, as dictated bythe level of security needed for the container (FIGS. 5A-C). In theembodiment of FIG. 5A, configuration A, the system may utilize tworotary latches 202 linked together by a single actuation member 112,accessible through a single opening 116. In the embodiment of FIG. 5B,configuration B, the system may utilize two rotary latches 202 which areindependently actuated by two separate actuation members 112, accessedthrough separate openings 116. In further embodiments, FIG. 5Cillustrates configuration C, in which the system 100 may utilize asingle latch 202 in communication with a single actuation member 112.

Advantageously, these different configurations of the system 100 provideusers with the flexibility to choose the combination of animalprotection and cost best suited for their container application.Configuration B provides the greatest resistance to animal entry, as thetwo latches 202 constrain the lid in place and each latch must beindependently actuated. This configuration is implemented at thegreatest expense, though, due to the need for multiple actuation members112 and latches 202. Conversely, Configuration C provides the leastresistance to animal entry, as the lid is constrained by a single latch202 actuated by actuation member 112 and may be employed at the leastexpense, due to the need for fewer actuation members 112 and latches 202compared to configuration B. Configuration A provides a compromisebetween configurations A and B, providing greater resistance to animalentry than configuration A, owing to the presence of two latches 202,but at a cost less than configuration C, as only a single actuationmember 112 is employed.

In one embodiment, the size and position of the openings 116A,B and theactuation member 112 are selected on the basis of human and animalphysiology. These parameters, illustrated in FIG. 6, are selected so asto allow access to and actuation of the actuation member 112 by humanhands but inhibit such access and actuation by the claws of animals. Theparameters values discussed below in respect to FIG. 6 are, inparticular, designed to inhibit the access of bears to the container.However, alternative embodiments of the system 100 may utilize differentparameter values, selected to specifically inhibit the access of otheranimals to the container.

The cover 114 is present on the outer surface of the base and serves asa protective mechanism to inhibit access to the actuation member 112 andlatch mechanism by animals such as bears. The openings 116A,B possessesa selected diameter 600 which allows human fingers to be inserted withinthe openings 116A,B. In one embodiment, the diameter 600 isapproximately 1.25 inch. Advantageously, in addition to accommodatinghuman users with bare hands, this diameter 600 is large enough toaccommodate users wearing thick work gloves, such as sanitation workers,without requiring the removal of the gloves.

The actuation member 112 is also designed to inhibit bears fromactuating the lever 250 through the opening 116 but allowing humans toeasily actuate the actuation member 112. This goal is accomplished bysizing and positioning the central cam body pivot 260 pivot in relationto the opening 116 such that when the cam body 244 is mounted on thepivot 260, the rest position of the lever 250 is recessed from theopenings 116A,B by a selected horizontal lever offset distance 602 and avertical lever offset distance 604. The vertical lever offset distance604 is measured approximately between the horizontal edge 606 of theopening 116 and the horizontal edge 608 of the lever 250, while thehorizontal offset distance 602 is measured approximately between thevertical edge 610 of the opening 116 and the vertical edge 612 of thelever 250. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the distances 602 and 604 areeach approximately 0.5 inch.

Advantageously, the configuration of the access hole diameter 600 andthe lever offset distances 602 and 604 place the lever 250 in a locationsubstantially inaccessible to a bear. The reach of a bear's paw islimited by the extent of its claw and the inability of the bear toextend or bend its claw beyond a certain angle from the plane of theirpaw. Thus, in embodiments of the system which utilize the selecteddiameter 600 and offset distances 602 and 604, should a bear inserttheir claw through the openings 116A,B, they would be substantiallyunable to bend their claws sufficiently to substantially contact thelever 250 and actuate the latches 202 from the latched to unlatchedpositions. In contrast, these actions are easily performed by a humanhand, as human fingers are sufficiently long and may bend and extendenough to manipulate the cam body 244.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the animal-resistantsystem disclosed herein protects a container to which it is installed bymultiple mechanisms from animal access. The latch mechanism secures thecontainer lid to the container base, and inhibits the lid from movingfrom the closed to open positions while the latch mechanism is latched.The configuration of the latch mechanism, actuation member, and openingare configured to allow access humans with flexible hands but inhibitaccess to animals with rigid claws, as well as automatically place thelatch mechanism in the latched orientation when the lid is closed.Further, the shrouds act both to inhibit animals from positioning theirclaws under the lid and prying the lid open from the closed position, aswell as reinforce the system from deformation which might unseat thelid. Thus, the system protects the container from animal attack and usererror while still providing an easy to access container.

Although the foregoing description has shown, described, and pointed outthe fundamental novel features of the present teachings, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in theform of the detail of the apparatus as illustrated, as well as the usesthereof, may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing fromthe scope of the present teachings. Consequently, the scope of thepresent teachings should not be limited to the foregoing discussion, butshould be defined by the appended claims.

1. An animal-resistant system for securing a lid of a container having abase, wherein the base defines an opening that receives the lid andwherein a lip is positioned on an outer surface of the base adjacent theopening so as to extend outward and then downward from the opening, thesystem comprising: at least one latch mechanism that interconnects thelid and the base of the container, wherein the at least one latchmechanism has a first orientation wherein the lid and the base aresecured together and a second orientation wherein the lid can be removedfrom the base wherein the at least one latch mechanism is concealed fromview and wherein the at least one latch member remains in the firstorientation regardless of the orientation of the latch member withrespect to gravity; at least one actuation member coupled to the atleast one latch mechanism wherein a user can manipulate the actuationmember to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first tothe second orientation; a cover that covers the actuation member,wherein the cover defines an opening that is spaced from the actuationmember a distance and direction selected to permit user manipulation ofthe actuation member by a human finger but to inhibit manipulation by ananimal claw; and at least one shroud member mounted to the base of thecontainer adjacent the interface between the base and the lid of thecontainer, to thereby inhibit an animal from accessing an edge of thelid of the container, wherein the at least one shroud member is shapedso as to extend outward from the opening and then downward over the lipand then inward towards the base and then upward so as to extend betweenthe lip and the base and wherein the shroud is coupled to the base via aplurality of fasteners that extend at least through two points in theshroud and through the lip interposed between the two points of theshroud and into the base so that the shroud has sufficient strength toinhibit a bear from deforming the base of the container adjacent the lidto thereby deform the opening to gain access to the opening to dislodgethe lid.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one latchmechanism comprises a first and a second latch mechanism.
 3. The systemof claim 2, wherein the at least one actuation member comprises a firstand a second actuation member respectively coupled to the first andsecond latch mechanisms.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at leastone actuation member comprises a single actuation member coupled to thefirst and second latch mechanisms.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theat least one latch mechanism includes a spring loaded latch thatautomatically latches into the first orientation when the lid is closedon the cover and wherein the at least one latch mechanism comprises arotary actuated latch that rotational movement of the actuation memberresults in manipulation of the at least one latch from the firstorientation to the second orientation.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinthe opening is sized and the actuation member is mounted with respect tothe opening in the cover so as to be recessed from the openinghorizontal and vertical distances selected so as to allow manipulationof the actuation member by a human finger by insertion of the fingerinto the hole and then bending the finger at the digital joint tothereby contact the actuation member and rotate the actuation memberupward.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the opening has a diameter ofapproximately 1¼ of an inch and the actuation member is positionedapproximately ½ of an inch adjacent from the edge of the opening and isrecessed approximately ½ of an inch from the edge opening.
 8. The systemof claim 1, wherein the protective member comprises a metal bandinstalled on the surface of the lid adjacent to the inner surface of thebase.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one shroud membercomprises a plurality of shroud members that extend about at least 3 ofthe 4 sides of the base and extend upward from the upper surface of thebase a distance selected to inhibit an animal from inserting its clawinto the interface between the base and the lid.
 10. The system of claim9, wherein the plurality of shroud members extend upward from the uppersurface of the base a distance of approximately ¼ to 1 inch above theinterface.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shroudsextend over the upper surface of the base so as to inhibit the bear fromdeforming the shape of the base by exerting force on the lip of thebase.
 12. The system of claim 1, where in the container comprises arefuse cart.
 13. An animal-resistant system for securing a lid of acontainer having a base wherein the base defines an opening thatreceives the lid and wherein a lip is positioned on an outer surface ofthe base adjacent the opening so as to extend outward and then downwardfrom the opening, the system comprising: at least one latch mechanismthat interconnects the lid and the base of the container, wherein the atleast one latch mechanism has a first orientation wherein the lid andthe base are secured together and a second orientation wherein the lidcan be removed from the base wherein the at least one latch mechanism isconcealed from view and wherein the at least one latch member remains inthe first orientation regardless of the orientation of the latch memberwith respect to gravity; at least one actuation member coupled to the atleast one latch mechanism wherein a user can manipulate the actuationmember to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first tothe second orientation; at least one shroud member that is mounted onthe inner edge of the base of the container, adjacent to the interfacebetween the base and the lid of the container, to thereby inhibit ananimal from accessing an edge of the lid of the container adjacent tothe base wherein the shroud member is shaped so as to extend outwardfrom the opening and then downward over the lip and then inward towardthe base and then upward so as to extend between the lip and the baseand wherein the shroud is coupled to the base via a plurality offasteners that extend at least through two points in the shroud andthrough the lip interposed between the two points of the shroud and intothe base so that the shroud has sufficient strength to inhibit a bearfrom deforming the base of the container to thereby deform the openingto gain access to the opening to dislodge the lid; a protective membermounted on the portion of the lid of the container that is adjacent tothe interface with the base, wherein the protective member is formed ofa rigid material so as to inhibit the bear from deforming the portion ofthe lid adjacent to the interface with the base.
 14. The system of claim13, wherein the protective member comprises a metal band installed onthe surface of the lid adjacent to the inner surface of the base. 15.The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one shroud member comprisesa plurality of shroud members that extend about at least 3 of the 4sides of the base and extend upward from the upper surface of the base adistance selected to inhibit an animal from inserting its claw into theinterface between the base and the lid.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the plurality of shroud members extend upward from the uppersurface of the base a distance of approximately ¾ to 1 inch above theinterface.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of shroudsextend over the upper surface of the base so as to inhibit the bear fromdeforming the shape of the base by exerting force on the lip of thebase.
 18. The system of claim 13 further comprising a cover that coversthe actuation member, wherein the cover defines an opening that isspaced from the actuation member a distance and direction selected topermit user manipulation of the actuation member by a human finger butto inhibit user manipulation by an animal claw.
 19. The system of claim13, wherein the at least one latch mechanism comprises a first and asecond latch mechanism.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at leastone actuation member comprises a first and a second actuation memberrespectively coupled to the first and second latch mechanisms.
 21. Thesystem of claim 19, wherein the at least one actuation member comprisesa single actuation member coupled to the first and second latchmechanisms.
 22. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one latchmechanism includes a spring loaded latch that automatically latches intothe first orientation when the lid is closed on the cover and whereinthe at least one latch mechanism comprises a rotary actuated latch thatrotational movement of the actuation member results in manipulation ofthe at least one latch from the first orientation to the secondorientation.
 23. The system of claim 13, wherein the opening is sizedand the actuation member is mounted with respect to the opening in thecover so as to be recessed from the opening horizontal and verticaldistances selected so as to allow manipulation of the actuation memberby a human finger by insertion of the finger into the hole and thenbending the finger at the digital joint to thereby contact the actuationmember and rotate the actuation member upward.
 24. The system of claim22, wherein the opening has a diameter of approximately 1¼ of an inchand the actuation member is positioned approximately ½ of an inchadjacent from the edge of the opening and is recessed approximately ½ ofan inch from the edge opening.
 25. An animal-resistant container,comprising: a receptacle having a base and a lid, wherein the basedefines an opening that receives the lid and wherein a lip is positionedon an outer surface of the base adjacent the opening so as to extendoutward and then downward from the opening; at least one latch mechanismthat interconnects the lid and the base of the container, wherein the atleast one latch mechanism has a first orientation wherein the lid andthe base are secured together and a second orientation wherein the lidcan be removed from the base wherein the at least one latch mechanism isconcealed from view and wherein the at least one latch member remains inthe first orientation regardless of the orientation of the latch memberwith respect to gravity; at least one actuation member coupled to the atleast one latch mechanism wherein a user can manipulate the actuationmember to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first tothe second orientation; a cover that covers the actuation member,wherein the cover defines an opening that is spaced from the actuationmember a distance and direction selected to permit user manipulation ofthe actuation member by a human finger but to inhibit manipulation by ananimal claw; and at least one shroud member mounted to the base of thecontainer adjacent the interface between the base and the lid of thecontainer, to thereby inhibit an animal from accessing an edge of thelid of the container, wherein the at least one shroud member is shapedso as to extend outward from the opening and then downward over the lipand then inward toward the base and then upward so as to extend betweenthe lip and the base and wherein the shroud is coupled to the base via aplurality of fasteners that extend at least through two points in theshroud and through the lip interposed between the two points of theshroud so that the shroud has sufficient strength to inhibit a bear fromdeforming the base of the container adjacent the lid to thereby deformthe opening to gain access to the opening to dislodge the lid; and aprotective member mounted on the portion of the lid of the containerthat is adjacent to the interface with the base, wherein the protectivemember is formed of a rigid material so as to inhibit the bear fromdeforming the portion of the lid adjacent the interface of the base. 26.The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one latch mechanismcomprises a first and a second latch mechanism.
 27. The system of claim26, wherein the at least one actuation member comprises a first and asecond actuation member respectively coupled to the first and secondlatch mechanisms.
 28. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least oneactuation member comprises a single actuation member coupled to thefirst and second latch mechanisms.
 29. The system of claim 25, whereinthe at least one latch mechanism includes a spring loaded latch thatautomatically latches into the first orientation when the lid is closedon the cover and wherein the at least one latch mechanism comprises arotary actuated latch that rotational movement of the actuation memberresults in manipulation of the at least one latch from the firstorientation to the second orientation.
 30. The system of claim 25,wherein the opening is sized and the actuation member is mounted withrespect to the opening in the cover so as to be recessed from theopening horizontal and vertical distances selected so as to allowmanipulation of the actuation member by a human finger by insertion ofthe finger into the hole and then bending the finger at the digitaljoint to thereby contact the actuation member and rotate the actuationmember upward.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the opening has adiameter of approximately 1¼ of an inch and the actuation member ispositioned approximately ½ of an inch adjacent from the edge of theopening and is recessed approximately ½ of an inch from the edgeopening.
 32. The system of claim 25, wherein the protective membercomprises a metal band installed on the surface of the lid adjacent tothe inner surface of the base.
 33. The system of claim 25, wherein theat least one shroud member comprises a plurality of shroud members thatextend about at least 3 of the 4 sides of the base and extend upwardsfrom the upper surface of the base a distance selected to inhibit ananimal from inserting its claw into the interface between the base andthe lid.
 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of shroudmembers extend upward from the upper surface of the base a distance ofapproximately ¾ to 1 inch above the interface.
 35. The system of claim25, wherein the plurality of shrouds extend over the upper surface ofthe base so as to inhibit the bear from deforming the shape of the baseby exerting force on the lip of the base.
 36. The system of claim 25,wherein the container comprises a refuse cart.